Basket



0. M. JAMES lam. m, 1933.

BASKET Filed D60. 28, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Jan. 10, 1933 UNITED STATE/SUPATEENT canoe OLIVER MATTHEW JAMES, OF DAYTON, TENN IBSEE, ASSIGNOR TO DAYTON Q; LUMBER MILLS, OF DAYTON, TENNESSEE, A CORPORATION OF TENNESSEE I BASKET Application flledZDecember 28, 1931. Serial 1V0. 583,582.

This invention relates to baskets, and particularly to baskets of the type having continuous stave members formed of veneer.

The object of the invention is to provide baskets of the type referred to which satisfy all of the requirements of what are known as export baskets which latter have a solid separate bottom member to which the sideforming staves are affixed.

These export baskets are expensive to manufacture, in that they are, as stated,

formed of a number of separate parts which mustbe carefully assembled.

In accordance with the resent invention baskets which are equal i not superior to such export basketsv may be manufactured by the use of known automatic machines, rapidly and cheaply.

Oneof the principal features of export baskets is their strength of bottom, and it is to the reinforcing of the bottoms of baskets of the continuous stave type referredto that the invention is particularly directed,

In continuous stave baskets, the stave members, assembled in proper relation to form these-called basket web, are bent in such a manner as to form the bottom and sides of the basket, and then the customary hoops are applied to the sides, by stapling or otherwise sultably, to retain the stave members in proper form and relation. It is the bends of the stave members that define their bottom and side forming portions at which the greatest strain occurs when the baskets are in service, and the invention provides a structure in which these bends are reinforced and the whole basket structure thereby strengthened.

With the fore oing in view, the invention contemplates a asket includingtwo webs of stave members preferably. arranged in superposed airs, the members of the web forming the interior of the basket preferably being of thicker material than those of the other web, and the thinner stave members servirig to reinforce the bends of the thicker stave members and to add rigidity to the basket bottom; and it contemplates also the interposition between the two webs at the basket bottom of a bottom reinforcing member preferably of relatively rigid material, all as will be explained more ully hereinafter and finally claimed.

In the accompanying drawings illustrattrating two modified arrangements of the outer web of stave members. Figs. 5 6 are views similar. to Fig. 2 but showing further modifications in which bottom reinforcing members are employed. Fig. 7 is a bottom view of a basket of the typei lustrated in Fig. 6, and Fig. 8 is a plan view of the bottom reinforcing member thereof removed. Fig. 9 is a plan view of a disk form of bottom reinforcing member such as that shown in Fig. 6. Fig. 10 is a plan view of two superposed stave members of the types preferabl employed in forming the two basket we s.

The basket illustrated is formed of two webs of stave members such as those indicated at 1 and 2. respectively, in Fig. 10, laid in criss-cross ra iated arrangement, the stave members of one web being paired with and overlying those of the other web, and the members of both webs being so laid and relatively arranged that there will be approximately the same space between the members of each pair.

The stave members 1, which are arranged.

interiorly of the basket are formed preferably of relatively heavy -or thick veneer stock to impart to them the desired rigidity, and they may, if desired, be tapered throughout their side portions as indicated at 3. The stave members 2 are formed of thinner veneer stock than the stave members 1, and are thus more liable and are easily bent. .Also, the memers 2 are preferably narrower than the members 1.

When the webs are appropriately assembled they and the stave members forming them may be secured in relative position by means of nails 4 or other appropriate fastenstave members may be used and they particularly ings which are driven through their center portions and clinched.

The combined webs thus united are placed in a shaping press, which may be of the wellknown plunger and receptacle type, and shaped to basket form, the stave members being bent upon approximately the lines 5 of Fig. 10 to form the bottom and sides of the basket, the bottom hoop 6, intermediate hoop 7 and top hoops 8 being applied and fixed by the machine by means of staples 9 or other suitable fastenings which are driven through the hoops and stave members and clinched, thus securing the stave members in fixed basket shape.

As will be a parent, particularly from an inspection of igs. 1 and 2, the bending of the stave members brings the outer, thin stave members 2 into intimate engagement orcontact with the inner, thick stave members 1, at the bends 10, and the outer stave members 2, being thin, bend with less liability of cracking and thus reinforce the bends of the inner stave members and! provide a stout, durable bottom edge for the basket. In addition to this function of reinforcing the bends of the inner stave members, the outer stave members add to the rigidity and strength of the basket bottom, and, due to the fact that their side forming portions underlie at least one of the hoops, as will be hereinafter explained, and are held by the staples 9, they firmly connect or anchor the bottom of the basket to its sides, thus providing a basket equal'if not surpassing in strength the familiar export basket referred to.

Inasmuch as it is the bottom of the basket to which it is desired particularly to impart strength, the thin stave members 2 of the outer web may be of such length that, when bentheir side forming portions will extend anly under and terminate adjacent to the bottom hoop 6, as indicated at 11, Fig. 3, or they may extend under the bottom hoop 6 and intermediate hoop 7 and terminate adjacent to the latter, as indicated at 12, Fig. 4.

As shown in Fig. 1, the arrangement of the stave members in the Webs, and their number, is such as to produce a basket with circumferentially spaced staves, or a ventilated type of basket, but if it is desired to produce a basket having closed sides, more may be so arrangedin the webs that when shaped to basket form their edges will abut or overlap.

I In some cases it may be found advisable to provide an even more sturdy, rigid bottom than that produced by the arrangement thus farparticularly described. When such is the case a bottom reinforcing member of a size commensurate with the basket bottom may be interposed between the two webs of stave members before they are shaped to basket 8 comprises a series of form, and this member will be held in place in the bottom when the websare so shaped.

As illustrative of the forms which a bottom reinforcing member of this character may take, two preferred forms are shown in Figs. 5, 7 and 8, and Figs. 6 and 9 of the drawings respectively.

The reinforcing member of Figs. 5, 7 and stave members or slats or strips of veneer 13 laid in criss-cross radiated arrangement and held in fixed relation by nails or the like 14. These stave members 13 are of a length to span the basket bottom between the bends 10,and their arrangement between the outer and inner webs is such that they will break joints with the stave members of the webs, as shown in Fig. 7. In this arrangement the reinforcin member, although made of a plurality o furnishes in the finished basket the effect of a solid bottom.

The reinforcing member 15 of Figs. 6 and 9 is a disk of wood, metal, paper, cardboard, corrugated board or other suitable relatively rigid material, preferabl though not necessarily, imperforate, an of a diameter to span the basket bottom between the bends 10 of the stave members. This member 15 interposed between the outer and inner webs, .as explained, is securely assembled in the basket bottom and adds strength and rigidity thereto, as does the similar member of Figs. 5, [and 8.

It will thus be seen that, in accordance with the invention, a very sturdy, rigid basket is provided, especially a basket having a strong, rigid bottom securely anchored to the basket sides.

Moreover, as hereinbefore indicated, the basket of the invention, in all ofthe forms illustrated, and in modifications thereof, may be formed upon machines now commonly used in shaping continuous stave baskets, without departing from customary practice.

Various changes and modifications other than and in addition to those specifically referred to are considered to be within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the following claims.

What I claim is 1. A basket, having sides and a bottom formed from a web comprising a plurality of flat stave members arranged in radiated superposed relation, and hoops afiixed to the side-forming portions of said staves, one of said hoops arranged adjacent to the bottom of the basket, the bottom-forming portions of said stave members and that portion thereof underneath said bottom hoop being paired.

2. A basket, including two webs of stave members, the members of one web being paired with the members of the other web in radiated superposed relation, said webs of stave members bent to form the bottom and sides of the basket and extending continumembers,

ously across said bottom, and hoops applied to the side-forming portions of the stave members, the bend of each stave member being reinforced by the stave member with which it is paired.

3. A basket, including two webs of stave members, the members of one web being paired with 'the members of the other web in radiated superposed relation, the stave members of one web being of greater thickness than those of the other web, said webs of stave members being bent to form the bottom and sides of the basket and extending continuously across said bottom, the stave members of greater thicknessarranged interiorly of the basket, the stave members of less thickness arranged to reinforce the bends of the stave members of greater thickness and to provide a rigid bottomfor the basket.

4. A basket, including two webs of stave members, the members of one web being paired with the members of the other web in radiated superposed relation, said webs of stave members bent to form the bottom" and sides of the basket and extending continuously across said bottom, a top, a bottom and an intermediate hoop applied to said sides to hold the stave members in basket-forming relation, the stave members of one of said webs terminating adjacent to and maintained in fixed relation by said intermediate hoop and serving to reinforce, the bends of the staves with which they are paired and to lend rigidity to the basket.

5. A basket, including two distinct but cooperating webs of stave members arranged in radiated superposed relation, said webs of stave members bent to form the bottom and sides of the basket, and a reinforcing member interposed between said webs and spanning the basket bottom, said reinforcing member retained in place by the bends of said stave members.

6. A basket, including two distinct but cooperating webs of stave members arranged in radiated superposed relation, said webs of stave members bent to form the bottom and sides of the basket, and a bottom reinforcing member comprising a series of radiated slats interposed between said webs and spanning the basket bottom, said reinforcing member retained in place by the bends of said stave members.

7. A basket, including two webs of stave members, the members of one web being paired with the members of the other web in radiated superposed relation, said webs of stave members bent to form the bottom and sides of the basket, and a reinforcing member comprising a series of radiated slats interposed between said webs and having its slats arranged to break joints with the members of said webs and spanning the basket bottom, said reinforcing member retained in place by the bends of said stave members.

8. A basket, including two distinct but 00- A operating webs of stave members arranged in radiated superposed relation, said webs of stave members bent to form the bottom and sides of the basket, and a reinforcing member comprising a disk of relatively rigid material interposed between said webs and spanning the basket bottom, said reinforcing member retained in place by the bends of said stave members.

9. A basket, including two distinct but cooperating webs of stave members arranged in radiated superposed relation, said webs of stave members bent to form the bottom and sides of the basket, and a reinforcing member interposed between said webs of stave members and providing a reinforcement .for the bottom of said basket, said reinforcing member spanning the space between at least two of the staves of one of said webs.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 26 day of December A. D. 1931.

OLIVER MATTHEW JAMES 

